Every year, the nation pays homage to Mahatma Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who was fondly called Bapu, on his birth anniversary on October 2, which is also known as Gandhi Jayanti.

The nation today remembered Mahatma Gandhi on his 149th birth anniversary. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat today. Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi also paid their tributes to Gandhiji. Every year, the nation pays homage to Mahatma Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who was fondly called Bapu, on his birth anniversary on October 2, which is also known as Gandhi Jayanti. Born in 1869 in Gujarat's Porbandar, Mahatma Gandhi had his early political training in South Africa while working among the local Indian community facing discrimination.

Here are the highlights on Gandhi Jayanti celebrations from across the country:

Oct 02, 2018

21:57 (IST)

Gandhi was for self-sufficiency at village-level: Tamil Nadu Governor

Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit said Mahatma Gandhi had brought about social cohesion by working against 'untouchability'.

"He (Gandhi) propagated the concept of trusteeship and wanted people to abhor accumulation of wealth for themselves and their families. All these were his outpourings which went beyond the political spectrum," the governor said.

When the Sabarmati ashram in Ahmedabad was started by Gandhi, there were initially 25 inmates of whom 13 were Tamilians, he said.

A symbolic Dandi march, led by children, was organised on Tuesday at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) campus in Australia to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary.

India's Consul General B. Vanlavawna, who joined the symbolic march, said Gandhi's ideas and values were still relevant and remembering him was a celebration of those ideas.

UNSW Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) Laurie Pearcey said the varsity library tower would be illuminated with Indian tricolour for the next two weeks.

"Gandhi was an advocate of change and resistance, but also of harmony, tolerance and cooperation, which is why commemorating his birth is just as relevant in Australia as it is in India and many nations," he said.

Oct 02, 2018

20:03 (IST)

Government working to realise Bapu's vision on sanitation: Nirmala Sitharaman

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today said the Narendra Modi government believed in Mahatma Gandhis vision on sanitation and was working to realise it.

"Gandhi ji said that sanitation is more important than independence. The government believes in this vision of Bapu," she said.

Ms Sitharaman said even after 72 years of Independence and despite many awareness programmes about sanitation and personal cleanliness launched by earlier governments, not much progress could be achieved.

"Therefore, in order to fulfill dream of Mahatma Gandhi to make India clean, Swachh Bharat Mission was introduced," she said.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi hoists the flag as former Congress president Sonia Gandhi looks on, during the Congress Working Committee meeting on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, at Sevagram, Wardha.

Oct 02, 2018

19:47 (IST)

Israeli diplomat Noa Hakim, also paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his 149th birth anniversary at Rajghat today. She said the occasion made her feel extra special as October 2 also happens to be her birthday.

"It is my second visit to Rajghat. I had come here accompanying our Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he came here during his India visit early this year. But, I feel honoured and humbled that I share my birthday with such a revered man," Ms Hakim told PTI.

Oct 02, 2018

19:43 (IST)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi awards a student at the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention (MGISC), at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Union ministers Sushma Swaraj and Uma Bharti also present at the event.

Oct 02, 2018

19:42 (IST)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres visits Mini Digital Exhibition at the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention (MGISC), at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

Oct 02, 2018

19:33 (IST)

A resolution was passed at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2007 marking Mahatma Gandhi's birthday on October 2 as the 'International Day of Non-Violence'. Countries across the globe celebrate this day by spreading Gandhi's message of 'Ahimsa' through public awareness campaigns and education.

Oct 02, 2018

19:09 (IST)

Indian Ambassador Venu Rajamony presented the special stamps to Netherland's former Foreign Minister Bernard R. Bot and Director General Erik de Baedts in front of the iconic Peace Palace of The Hague, home to the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

PM Modi and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited an exhibition during the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention at Rashtrapati

Oct 02, 2018

10:52 (IST)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Pays Tribute To Mahatma GandhiMahatma Gandhi connected India in letter and spirit, in thought and action, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote in a blog to mark the birth anniversary of the father of the nation on Tuesday. "India is a land of diversity. If there was one person who brought everyone together, made people rise above differences, to fight colonialism and enhanced India's stature at the world stage, it was Mahatma Gandhi," PM Modi said in the blog published by the Times of India.

On October 1, school students celebrated Gandhi Jayanti in various forms. While in one Chennai school, students dressed as Mahatma Gandhi and performed yoga, students from a school in Amritsar took part in a march to celebrate the occasion

Oct 02, 2018

10:46 (IST)

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres paid a floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in Delhi on Gandhi Jayanti

Oct 02, 2018

09:42 (IST)

"Today is International Day of Non-Violence, in remembrance of Mahatma Gandhi and his philosophy of non-violence or ahimsa. We must focus on spreading the Gandhian philosophy across the country," West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said

Oct 02, 2018

09:41 (IST)

Homage to Bapu on #GandhiJayanti. Let us rededicate ourselves to the values espoused by Mahatma Gandhi - peace, fraternity, harmony and inclusive national development. Gandhiji's message remains relevant for all and he continues to be our guiding light #PresidentKovind

"I am paying a tribute to the memory of Mahatma Gandhi, who embodied dedication, dedication, unselfishness, truthfulness and absolutism. The truth is that he practiced and the theories of nonviolence which are the foundations of the Indian democracy," Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said

Oct 02, 2018

09:39 (IST)

"Pay my tributes to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi ji on his 150th birth anniversary. Bapuji's simplicity, love for the downtrodden and immense contribution to India's freedom struggle in adherence to Ahimsa and Satyagraha continues to inspire people all over the world," union minister Suresh Prabhu wrote on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti

Oct 02, 2018

09:36 (IST)

US plans to honour Mahatma Gandhi with the country's highest civilian honour

Half a dozen influential US lawmakers, including four Indian-Americans, have moved a resolution in the US House of Representatives to posthumously award the prestigious Congressional Gold Medal to Mahatma Gandhi in recognition of his promotion of peace and non-violence.

Introduced in the US House of Representatives by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney from New York on September 23, the resolution (H R 6916) is co-sponsored by four Indian-American lawmakers in the House - Ami Bera, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna and Pramila Jayapal.

"Events related to sanitation and renewable energy shall be the focus of the Prime Minister's engagements on Gandhi Jayanti," said a statement from the Prime Minister's Office.

At the Rashtrapati Bhavan cultural centre, the Prime Minister will attend the closing session of the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention -- a four-day international conference that has brought together sanitation ministers and other leaders from around the world.

The Swachh Bharat Awards will also be distributed on this occasion.

Oct 02, 2018

09:00 (IST)

Three monuments in Delhi - Gol Gumbad, Bijri Khan and Paik tombs - will be illuminated with the tricolour for seven days from Gandhi Jayanti, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has said.

"Through community engagement and cultural interventions, we want to highlight the amazing layers of Delhi's history and keep alive its composite culture," he said

Oct 02, 2018

08:56 (IST)

Congress President Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in Delhi. Rahul Gandhi was one of the first senior leaders to pay homage to Gandhiji at his iconic memorial.

Sonia Gandhi paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia paid their homage to the Mahatma. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi then left. The Congress leaders are slated to travel to Wardha in Maharashtra for the meeting of the Congress Working Committee